Ex-Iranian vice president gets 63 years prison

By Mustafa Melih Ahishali

ISTANBUL

An Iranian court has sentenced one of the country’s former vice presidents to 63 years in prison, the ex-official reported on social media.

Hamid Baghaei was first vice president of Iran in 2009-2013 during the presidency of Mahmood Ahmadinejad.

"I was sentenced to 63 years in prison by the efforts of the head of Judicial Power, Amuli Laricani," Baghaei wrote on Telegram, a social media platform.

He claimed the decision was political.

Baghaei was arrested in June 2015 for failing to pay a $15 million fine for "financial crimes" he was allegedly involved in during his tenure.

He was released pending trial in July after paying a reduced "security deposit" worth $6.1 million.